Poole Harbour Commissioners have abolished speed limits for parts of the harbour until the end of March 2014 and agreed a new protocol to improve safety response
Speed limits for parts of Poole Harbour have been abolished until the end of March 2014, meaning that boats can now navigate the Wareham Channel, Middle Ship Channel and North Channel without any restrictions.
Although the limits have been abolished, Poole Harbour Commissioners (PHC) are reminding skippers of their obligation to navigate, “with care and caution and at such speed and in such manner as not to endanger the lives or cause injury or be a nuisance to persons or endanger the safety of or cause damage to other vessels, moorings, buoys, beacons or other property”. Speed limits throughout the rest of the harbour will still apply, such as the 6-knot limit in Little Channel and Holes Bay and the 10-knot limit in the harbour entrance area between Bell Buoy and 1400m from South Haven Point.
At the same time, PHC say that safety will be improved as a result of a protocol agreed to improve the initial response to recreational emergencies within the harbour. PHC, the Maritime and Coastguard Agency, the RNLI, the RYA, and local yacht clubs will monitor the same communications channel to better co-ordinate their responses, particularly during organised events where safety boats are being used.
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